MXGP 3: The Official Motocross Video Game

While this dirt bike racing game tries to be all things to all riders, it works best if you're serious about motocross ... or motocross video games. Like so many racing games these days, MXGP 3: The Official Motocross Video Game gives players the choice of playing with realistic controls and physics or with simplified controls and more forgiving physics. But unlike the Forza games, this is never streamlined to the point of being an arcade-ish racing game. It also has a depth that will satisfy serious gear heads, such as how you can customize your bike with dozens of performance-enhancing parts, but this too may overwhelm casual riders.

That said, if you are looking for a realistic off-road dirt bike game, this will keep you engaged for a long time. Not only does it have a large number of tracks, bikes, real riders, and options, but it also has two career modes (based on bike size), two other single player modes (including one where you pick the races), and a full complement of online races. But even then, it has some issues, such as how long it takes to load sometimes. Also, if you sit at a reasonable distance from your TV, you'll have a lot of trouble reading the menus, as the type is tiny. But if you're patient, have perfect eyesight, and want a realistic dirt bike racing experience, MXGP 3: The Official Motocross Video Game will keep you engaged all season.